1997–98 Honduran Liga Nacional Explained

Competition:Liga Nacional
Season:1997–98
Winners:Apertura: Motagua
(6th title)
Clausura: Motagua
(7th title)
Relegated:Palestino
Independiente Villela
Continentalcup1:Torneo Grandes de Centroamerica
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:Motagua
Real España
Olimpia
Continentalcup2:Torneo Grandes de Centroamerica
League Topscorer:Apertura:
Wilmer Velásquez (19)
Clausura: Amado Guevara (15)
Biggest Home Win:Vida 7–2 Independiente
(19 October 1997)
Biggest Away Win:Independiente 1–4 Olimpia
(8 July 1998)
Victoria 1–4 Olimpia
(9 August 1998)
Real Maya 1–4 Motagua
(20 September 1998)
Highest Scoring:Vida 7–2 Independiente
(19 October 1997)
Prevseason:1996–97
Nextseason:1998–99
Updated:25 October 1998

In 1997–98 the Honduran Liga Nacional brought a new competition system; the league would be now divided into two tournaments (Apertura and Clausura), having C.D. Motagua won their 6th and 7th title in this new format. The tournament lasted from August 1997 to October 1998 and it consisted of 11 teams for the first time since the 1981–82 season.[1] The final match was played in the evening of 25 October, just a few hours before Hurricane Mitch landed in the coasts of Honduras.

1997–98 teams

Apertura

Regular season

Standings

Results

Final round

Hexagonal

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----

Semifinals

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Final

Top goalscorers

19 goals

11 goals

7 goals

6 goals

5 goals

Clausura

Regular season

Standings

Results

Final round

Hexagonal

Semifinals

Final

GK
DF José Fernández
DF Gregorio Serrano
DF Rudy Williams
DF Merlyn Membreño
DF Samuel Caballero
MF
MF
MF Alex Pineda
FW Denilson Costa
FW
Substitutions:
MF
FW
GK
Manager:
José Herrera
GK 1 Diego Vásquez
DF 4 Hernaín Arzú
DF 5 Milton Reyes
DF 6 Ninrrol Medina
DF 12 Iván Guerrero
DF 13 Reynaldo Clavasquín
MF 8 Juan Coello
MF 20 Amado Guevara
MF Óscar Lagos
FW 11 José Ramírez
FW 14
Substitutions:
MF Luis Guifarro
Manager:
Ramón Maradiaga

Top goalscorers

15 goals

13 goals

8 goals

7 goals

5 goals

2 goals

1 goal

Squads

Independiente Villela
Wilmer Enrique "Supermán" Cruz Marel Álvarez Jorge Flores
José Luis “Pili” Aguirre Martín Castro Wilmer Roque
David Zambrano Gustavo Gallegos Mauricio Edgardo Figueroa
Danilo Velásquez Arnold López Reynaldo "Chino" Pineda
Henry Guevara Iván Ponce José "Picardía" Padilla
Luis Santamaría Pablo Valencia Gustavo Venegas
Sergio Bustos Hernán Carusso Hugo Aguilar
Irineo Núñez Óscar "Pando" Gómez Edgardo Emilson Soto Fajardo
Leonardo Isaula Gustavo Olaíndia Mario Obulgen
Iván Nolasco Mariano "Tierno" Ramírez Francisco Sandoval
Walter Amador Édgar Fajardo Édgar Delgado
José Zaldívar Luis "Bombero" Ramírez Noé Argueta
Palestino
Dangelo Bautista Wilmer Centeno Javier Padilla
Ricardo Pérez Wilson Castellanos Cristino Bernárdez
Marvin Mazariegos Selvin Sánchez Walter “Gualala” Trejo
Raúl Trejo Luis Perdomo Marcos Pitío
Carlos Mathis Enrique Carías Carlos Gotay
Carlos González James Chewitt Yerco Salinas
Gustavo Cálix Marvin Morán Rubén Cantarero
Óscar Hurtarte Carlos Ellis Juan Carlos Salinas
Juan Carlos Canchimbo Juan Ramón Hernández Mario Guerrero
Israel Bernárdez Marvin "Mango" Henríquez Edward Barahona
Danilo "Pollo" Galindo Osmar Vargas Iván Elías
Martín Álvarez Claudio Chasior Gustavo Steimbach
Evelio Barralaga Felipe Valerio Nicole Watson
Jorge García Henry Enamorado David Flores
Hudell Thompson Neptally Romero Aldo Fuentes
Allan Villegas
Motagua
Diego Martin Vásquez Ninrod Madina Hernain Arzu
Reinaldo Clavasquin Arón Hernandez Juan Manuel "Gato" Coello
Milton "Jocon" Reyes Amado "Lobo" Guevara Juan Carlos Raudales
Roberto Asprilla Marlon "Pitufo" Hernández Luis "Chamaquito" Guifarro
Presley Carson Woods Jairo Manfredo Martinez Francisco "Pancho Ra" Ramirez
Ariel Leyes Oscar "Mexicano" Lagos Ivan Guerrero
Olimpia
Donaldo González Nerlin Membreño Favio Ulloa
Samuel Caballero Alberto Güity Gregorio Serrano
Jose Luis "Flaco" Pineda Nahun Espinoza Dolmo Flores
Silvio Traverso Denilson Costa de Oliveira Wilmer Velasquez
Eduardo Arriola Carter Cesar Henriquez Nolberto Martinez
Ramon Romero "Romerito"
Platense
Ricardo James Rony Morales Anthony "El Caballo de Hierro" Torres
Limber Perez Marco Antonio Mejía Jorge Arita Neals
Robel Bernardez Roberto bernardez Abel Rodriguez
Julio Cesar "Rambo" D. Leon José Luis "Runga" Piota Carlos Da Silva
Juan Manuel Carcamo Gustavo Fuentes Hernan Centeno Batiz
Real Maya
Marvin Fonseca Luis Lagos Hector Amaya
Leonardo Svagher Lenin Suárez Edgar Sierra
David Carcamo Jose "Flaco" Hernandez Geovany "Yura" Rochez
Claudio Sanchez Nelson Rosale Guillermo Ramirez
Luis Enrique "Gavilan" Calix Elvis "Chusa" Castellanos Alberto Guity
Real España
Javier Rodríguez Jaime Ruiz
Luis Lopez Zelaya Marco Vinicio "Chacal" Ortega Camilo "Tin Tin" Bonilla Paz
Diego Fernandez Miguel Fernandez Edgar Figueroa
César Clother Marlon Monge Mario Rodríguez
Norman Martínez Ricky Denis García Francis Reyes
Orvin Cabrera Jorge Zapata Alexander Díaz
Miguel Angel "Gallo" Mariano Rodolfo Richardson Smith S. Alderete
Universidad
Damian Garofalo Guillermo César Sumich Troy Andrerson
Miguel Arcangel Guity Daniel Aquino Amidanan Lainez
Juan Rosa Lagos Martin Sirimarco Hector Leonel Rodriguez
Claudio del Barco D. Bonilla Camilo Bonilla Ocampo
Rony Zelaya Jorge "Avioneta" Martinez Raul Dolmo
Victoria
Carlos Pronno Javier Martinez Raul Martinez Sambula
Renán Cristino Bengoché Fabricio Pérez Francisco Antonio Pavón
Hernan Funez Jose Garcia Erick Dario Fú
cesar "Nene" Obando Byron Suazo Alejandro "Turco" Naif
Persibal Piggot Mauricio Edgardo Figueroa Alvaro Izquierdo

Curiosities

On 12 July 1998, the league scheduled a match between Palestino F.C. and Universidad at Estadio Miraflores. The game which started at 14:00 local time, was played at the same time of the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Brazil. The match which ended 2–0 to Palestino, was witnessed by 55 loyal fans, an outstanding record.[2]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.rsssf.org/tablesh/hond98.html RSSSF.com–Honduras 1997/98
  2. http://www.radiohouse.hn/casos-insolitos-del-futbol-hondureno/ RadioHouse.hn–CASOS INSÓLITOS DEL FÚTBOL HONDUREÑO